Boxwoods are popular evergreen shrubs that add beauty and structure to gardens. However, there is a looming threat that all garden enthusiasts need to be aware of - boxwood blight. This fungal disease, caused by the pathogen Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum, can quickly devastate boxwood plants and spread throughout an entire garden. In this blog post, we will explore what boxwood blight is, how it spreads, and what steps you can take to prevent and manage it.

What is Boxwood Blight?
Boxwood blight is a highly contagious fungal disease that infects boxwood plants. It originated in Europe and was first discovered in the United States in 2011. The disease primarily affects boxwoods in the Buxaceae family, including common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla).

The symptoms of boxwood blight are easy to spot. Infected plants develop dark brown leaf spots, defoliation, and stem cankers. The spots often have a unique "bullseye" pattern, with a brown center surrounded by a yellow halo. These characteristic symptoms, along with black streaks on the stems, are telltale signs of boxwood blight.

Welcome to our gardening blog, where we are dedicated to helping you master your garden and keep your shrubs and ornamental plants under control. If you've ever had the frustration of watching your beautiful garden become overrun with unruly plants, you know how important it is to prevent plant overgrowth. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of proper pruning and size control, as well as essential tips for fertilizing and watering ornamental plants to maintain a healthy garden. Additionally, we will discuss effective strategies for weed control in landscape beds, so you can keep those pesky weeds at bay. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this blog post is filled with valuable information to help you create and maintain a stunning garden. So, let's dive in and learn how to prevent shrubs and ornamental plants from taking over!

Preventing Plant Overgrowth: The Importance of Proper Pruning and Size Control
Proper pruning and size control are essential for maintaining the health and appearance of your outdoor plants. While the terms pruning and trimming are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. Pruning involves removing dead, loose, or infected branches or stems from a plant, while trimming occurs when you cut back overgrown plants.

Regular pruning and trimming can help manage pests and insects that can cause damage to your plants. For example, Tent Worms are colonizing insects that build nests in trees and eat the surrounding foliage. By pruning and removing affected branches, you can control their population and prevent further damage.

In addition to pest and insect control, pruning and trimming can also help prevent the spread of plant-related diseases. Removing infected or diseased parts of a plant can help stop the spread and promote overall plant health.

Furthermore, proper pruning and trimming can promote proper plant growth and improve the overall appearance of your property. By removing overgrown branches, you can shape and control the size of your plants, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing landscape.

It is important to prune and trim on a regular basis to maintain the health and beauty of your plants. This includes established ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees. Along with pruning and trimming, other practices such as proper fertilization, watering, mulching, and weed control should also be implemented to ensure the optimal growth and health of your plants.

By caring for your outdoor plants through regular pruning and size control, you can prevent plant overgrowth, manage pests and diseases, and beautify your garden. This not only enhances the appearance of your property but also helps prevent soil erosion, maintain property values, and minimize damage to the environment and human health. So make sure to give your plants a good soak, provide plenty of mulch, remove weeds, stabilize plants, and prevent pests through proper pruning and size control.

Maintaining a Healthy Garden: Essential Tips for Fertilizing and Watering Ornamental Plants
Maintaining a healthy garden requires attention to various aspects, including proper fertilizing and watering techniques, especially when it comes to ornamental plants. Fertilizing plays a crucial role in providing the right balance of nutrients for the development and blooming of these plants. It is important to fertilize regularly, taking into account the specific needs of each type of plant.

When it comes to fertilizers, understanding the different types and their components can help gardeners make informed choices. Over-fertilization can be detrimental, causing nutrient burn or stunting growth, so it's important to follow recommended guidelines.

Watering is equally essential, as it provides plants with the necessary hydration for their survival and growth. Different types of ornamental plants have varying water requirements, and it's crucial to tailor the watering schedule accordingly. Proper watering techniques, such as deep watering and avoiding overhead irrigation, can prevent water wastage and promote healthier root development.

Consistency is key when it comes to watering ornamental plants. It's important to avoid both under-watering and over-watering. Monitoring the moisture levels of the soil and adjusting the watering schedule accordingly can help maintain optimal conditions.

By following these essential tips for fertilizing and watering, gardeners can ensure the health and vitality of their ornamental plants, creating a beautiful and thriving garden. Taking care of established ornamental plants through proper fertilization and watering not only keeps them healthy and attractive but also contributes to the overall well-being of the garden.

Keeping Weeds at Bay: Effective Strategies for Weed Control in Landscape Beds
Now that we have discussed effective strategies for weed control in landscape beds, let's delve deeper into the importance of maintaining a healthy lawn and landscape.

When it comes to weed control, prevention is always better than cure. By establishing and caring for your ornamental plants, you can create a healthy and attractive landscape that naturally inhibits weed growth. This includes proper fertilization, pruning, watering, mulching, and pest control.

Regularly fertilizing your plants ensures they receive the necessary nutrients to thrive, making them more resistant to weed competition. Pruning helps maintain the size or shape of your plants, reducing the available space for weeds to take root. Adequate watering and mulching not only nourish your plants but also create a barrier that prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil and germinating.

Another effective strategy to prevent weed growth is to regularly cultivate the soil in your landscape beds. This disrupts weed growth, breaks up their roots, and prevents them from establishing a stronghold in your garden.

If despite your best efforts, weeds still manage to find their way into your landscape beds, you may consider using herbicides. However, it is important to use them judiciously and follow all safety precautions, as herbicides can have negative impacts on the environment and human health.

In addition to weed control, maintaining a healthy lawn and landscape has numerous benefits. It not only enhances the aesthetics of your property, but it also increases property values and reduces soil erosion. By crowding out weeds and providing less space for them to grow, a healthy lawn and landscape can naturally prevent weed overgrowth.

To Conclude
By implementing the techniques and strategies discussed in this blog post, you can successfully prevent shrubs and ornamental plants from taking over your garden. Proper pruning and size control will ensure that your plants stay in their designated spaces, while regular fertilizing and watering will keep them healthy and vibrant. Additionally, by employing effective weed control strategies, you can keep your landscape beds free from unwanted invaders. Remember, maintaining a beautiful garden requires consistent effort and attention, but the rewards are well worth it. So, put these tips into practice and enjoy a garden that is both stunning and manageable. Happy gardening!

While many people love the sight of beautiful shrubbery, but few owners are keen on keeping up with the maintenance that these plants require. Thankfully, there are plenty of shrub species that require very little maintenance and minimal watering as well. This article will introduce you to ten of the best low-maintenance shrubs that you can grow in your yard. These are in alphabetical order. 

​The ten shrub options we listed above do not require much maintenance each year. However, all shrubs will need some form of care, even if it is minimal. To help you give your shrubs the support they need to perform well, here are a few shrub maintenance basics that you should know:

• Watering: There are many shrubs that have low water needs, but all shrub species will need water at some point. Before planting a shrub, learn the ideal amount of supplemental water that it prefers. 
• Fertilization: Fertilization is not always necessary for a shrub to grow well. However, feeding your shrubs can help increase their vigor. At times, a single application of general-purpose fertilizer is enough to keep your shrubs healthy and happy. 
• Pruning: Many shrubs have minimal need for pruning. However, selective pruning helps remove branches that are dead, damaged, or diseased, which only increases the longevity of your shrubs. 

Finding low-maintenance shrubs is quite convenient. Still, it’s important to remember that all shrubs need some attention from time to time. The maintenance basics above should give you a clear idea of what your shrubs need to thrive. ​

A tasteful selection of shrubs growing in your foundation bed can do wonders for the overall curb appeal of your home. However, selecting shrubs for a foundation planting plan is not a one size fits all process. Instead, you should choose foundation shrubs based on the unique characteristics of your house. The next few sections will give you a better idea of how to do that. 

Choosing Shrubs for One-Story Houses
The shrubs you should plant for a one-story or smaller  house are generally different than those you would pick for a larger or multi-story  house. For example, if you have a one-story house, it’s usually best to select shrubs that are on the smaller side. 

As larger shrubs mature, they will appear out of proportion compared to a one-story house. This can cause your home to look smaller than it actually is, and it can allow your shrubs to appear overgrown and out of place. 

On the other hand, shrubs that remain small are more likely to complement the size and proportion of your home’s front façade. Shrub species that reach anywhere from two to six feet tall should work well in those situations. 

Choosing Shrubs for Houses with Multiple Stories
If you have a larger home with multiple stories, you have a greater opportunity to incorporate both large and small shrubs into your foundation planting scheme. However, it is still vital to consider the placement of these shrubs. 

For example, you should situate larger shrubs at the corners of your home or between windows. Large shrubs that grow directly in front of a window will quickly block the view out as they expand each growing season. On the other hand, it is often permissible to plant smaller shrubs directly below a window as they are far less likely to obscure the view. 
When choosing larger shrubs, it is also sensible to consider the plant’s overall form. If you wish to place a larger shrub between windows, it’s better to use one that has a narrower form than one that is more rounded. Likewise, it’s often better to select shrubs that grow more horizontally than vertically for areas directly below windows. 

Matching Shrubs to the Style of Your Home
Sizing is not the only factor you need to consider when choosing shrubs for your foundation bed. It is also important to choose shrubs that will match the exterior appearance of your home. 

Consider the colors and textures of your home’s façade. Then, select shrubs that have complementary colors and textures. 

Matching shrubs to the style of your home can require an artistic eye. However, don’t forget that what matters most is your opinion. After finding a set of shrubs that are the right size for your house, you can narrow down your selection to the ones that have the flowers and foliage that you think looks best. 

A Few Popular Shrubs for Foundation Planting Beds
Now that you understand the basics of how to choose shrubs for a foundation bed let’s consider a few popular options. Below are some of the most commonly used shrubs for foundation beds:

• Arborvitae
• Azalea
• Boxwoods
• Clethra
• Holly
• Hydrangea
• Juniper
• Lilac
• Shrub roses
• Spirea

This list does not include all of the shrubs that are fantastic for foundation planting, but it is a good start. Understanding the style and mature size of plants can feel overwhelming as there are over 1,000 varieties of plants that thrive in the Upstate of South Carolina. Hiring a landscape designer like our team member Chad, can help you match the perfect plants with your house size and style. 

A huge thank you to Scott Carlson from Schneider Tree Care for writing this guest blog for us! He is an ISA Certified Arborist at Schneider Tree Care. Check out their website at schneidertree.com. 

It’s that time again to start making resolutions! If you’re like me, you’ve probably resolved to eat healthier and exercise more, but again, if you’re like me, those resolutions won’t last long. How about creating some resolutions that we can stick to? Resolve to make 2021 the year that you get the landscape you’ve been wanting for years! It could be easier than you think! Check out some projects that you can make your goal to complete this year!

Add a fire pit
We can’t stress this enough, a fire pit is the perfect outdoor living addition to your back yard. It is such a great center piece to have everyone gathered round. Some use it for warmth, some use it for ambiance, but it is perfect for both. It is especially fun to gather round with the family and toast marshmallows to make s’mores!

Landscaping Package
Spend more time with your family and let us do the work for you. We have several different package options, but we can keep your lawn looking great all year long. Check out our packages on the home page of our website!

Plant Shrubs
Shrubs are a wonderful addition to any landscape. They add great personality to any home landscape. They also make great border plants!

Plant Flowers
Who doesn’t love flowers? They add the perfect pop of color to any area. You can also always have fresh flowers in the house when you have a fresh supply out in your yard!

Grow a Garden
Nothing is better than fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs out of the garden. While you can get the most output in the summer, gardens can be grown all year round! There is always something to grow and harvest and I can guarantee it will taste better than anything you can find at the store!

Add a Patio
Patios are a wonderful addition to spruce up the back yard. It is the best investment because you will use it more than you know. We are lucky enough to live in a place where we don’t have too harsh of a winter, so you are sure to use a patio space all year long!

Many of these projects you might feel like you can tackle on your own, but for others you may want our help! We would love to assist you in helping you meet these resolutions in 2021 and beyond. Give us a call today at (864)275-2039!

By: Hannah Raines
Copyright ALL Outdoors 2021

Now is a great time to plant shrubs in your yard. Planting shrubs is a great way to spruce up the look of your lawn! Shrubs come in all shapes and sizes. They range in sizes from short and wide to narrow and tall. You can buy some shrubs that are already full-size, or others that need room for their future growth. Shrubs are also available in many different varieties of color and some can feature berries or beautiful blooms. Not only do shrubs add beauty to your lawn, they are also functional. Shrubs can be planted along your property line to create added privacy and noise reduction. 

There are many options of shrubs that you can plant in the Upstate. This month, on our Facebook page, we featured a different type of shrub every Tuesday. Below, you will find every shrub that we featured this month, all in one place!